Means for steering motor-vehicles



F. I.. RAPSON.

MEANS FOR STEERING MUT OIIR. VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED ocT. I6, Isla.

1,343,846, Patented June 15, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK LIONEL BAPSON, F LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. i

MEANS FOB STEERING MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification vof Letters Patent. Pajenijed June 15, 1920.

Applioatien led ctobe 16,'1918.'v Serial No. 258,427.

land, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inv Means for Steering Motor- Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

. minimum effort which at its upper end with `trols in the usual manner not shown, is y mounted in av pair of anti-friction or ordi- This invention relates to improvements in means for steering motor vehicles.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for steering automo iles withl the device will be specially applicable to heavyv vehicles such as lorries, steam wagons or tractors.

A. further object is to provide a device which will be automatically self alining, or nearly so, by providing double compression springs which will always tend to keep in its normal or central position a block mounted on the steering pillar.

n further object is to eliminate the draw-- backs of the usual worm and worm wheel4 steering, by providing simple means to take up the slack due to wear thereby preventing play in the steering wheel.

'With these and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a device in which the steering mechanism is actuated b a blockl movable on an anti-friction threa.d, the block being disposed between compression springs which'tend to keep the block in its normal position.`

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyino' drawings in which Iigure 1 isa sectional side elevation; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the lever member;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the runner block and shaft, and,`4 l v Fig. 4 is a section on the linel A-A of s shown the lower end of the preferably hollow steering pillar 1 which is provided a hand wheel and con.

nary bearings 2 providedin a suitable casing 3. The portion of the pillar shaft4 1 disposed betweenv the pair of bearings in the casing 3 is formed with two helical grooves 4 and 5 and upon this portion of the Shaft 1 is mounted a block or nut 6 formed with cooperating helical grooves 7 and 8. Within CBSSBS of the springs 13.

ber 16 fulcrumed at 17 in -enable any play .casing 3 is pre erably these coperating grooves 4 and 7 and 5 and 8 are provided a number of anti-friction rollers or balls 9 and 10 which are circulated through channels 11 and 12 cut in the said block 6, thus providing anti-friction threads which will enable the block 6 to be easily moved axiall along the shaft 1 when turned by the han or steering wheel, At each side of the said block 6 and surrounding the shaft 1 are disposed coiled compression springs 13 which act to keep the block 6 in its intermediate position. The outer ends of these springs 13 bear against the bearings 2 disposed in the casing 3. Suitable re- 14 are cut in the bearings 2 and in the ends of the block 6 to receive the outer ends Each side of `the block 6 is provided with outwardly extending anti-friction rollers 15 which are adapted to move in the "slotted ends of a lever memthe lower portion of the inclosing casing 3. The outer and lower end of this lever 16 is connected to one end of a link 18 through the usual ball adju'stment devices 19 and the end ofthe link 18 is connected to the usual Ackermann steering gear. The slotted ends of the lever 16 are provided with `adjusting plates 20 to between the forked end of thelever 16 and the 15 to be taken up. |The plates 2() are formed with inclined faces 21 which are adapted to coperate with inclined faces 22 formed in the slotted ends `of the lever member 16.

The plates 20 are retained in position by lever 16. The inwardly turnedends 24 of the angle members 23 are adapted to engge in slots 2 5 cut in the said plates 20. e plates 2O are moved downwardly against the action 'of a spring 26 by a bolt 27 engaging on a washer 28 abutting on the upper ends of the plates 20. Thus any play between the plates 20 andthe anti-friction rollers 15 can be taken up by adjusting the bolt 27 and be locked b provided with a detachable lid 30 to enable. the parts to be lubricated and adjustments' to `be made. Suitable grease retaining washers or other suitable means maybe provided in the base of the casing 3 to make a fluid tight joint at the fulcrum 17 ofthe lever member 16. What I claim isz- 1. A steering `device of the character deanti-friction rollers the nut 29 The inclosing i the block with the steering wheels of a veto move longitudinally of the post and having screw threaded engagement therewith, j

yielding means disposed to engage the block to oppose its longitudinal movement 1n either direction, and means for connecting hicle.

scribed, comprising a rotatable post, a block to move longitudinally of the post and having screw threaded engagement therewith,'

compressible coil springs surrounding the post and contacting with the opposite ends of the block to oppose'its longitudinal movement in either direction, and a pivoted lever having connection with the block and adapted for connection with the steering wheels of the vehicle.

3. A steering device of the character described, comprising a rotatable post, a blockA having screw threaded engagement therewith and provided with a pivot element, a movable member, plates adjustably mounted in said member to receive the pivot element between them,'and means for adjusting the plates with respectto the pivot ele,

play in the y operalongitudinal movement of the plates to ad- 2. A steering device of the character de-u signed my just the relative spacing of the approximate Awalls of said longitudinal opening being provided near ytheir ends with longitudinal inclined faces, plates arranged within the longitudinal'opening upon opposite sides of the pivot element 'to contact therewith and having longitudinal inclined faces arranged lnear their ends to contact with the first ,namedlongitudinalinclined faces, a spring arrangedv near corresponding ends of the plates to oppose their longitudinal movement with relation to the lever., and an element having screw threaded engagement with the lever near the opposite ends of the plates and serving to move the 4plates longitudinallyrin one direction with relation to the lever. y

6. A steering device comprising a casing7 a threaded steering post mounted in the casing for rotation, a block encircling the post within thevcasing, said block having thread recesses and transferring channels between said recesses, anti-friction balls arranged in said recesses to engage the threads in the post, said ballV being permitted necessary movement through said transferring channels, and springs encircling the post and bearing respectively between opposite sides of the block and the casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto name.

' FRED LONEL RAPSQN. 

